Devices for guarding latch conditioning elements



Oct. 11, 1960 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 2,955,858

DEVICES FOR GUARDING LATCH CONDITIONING ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 19, 1956 FIG.|. "Z4 Z6 m INVENTOR, EARL M. TRAMMELL JR.

BY 7 M W ZATTORNEYS.

United States DEVICES FOR Guatemala-LATCH. C N TIO NG. EMEN S Earl Monroe Trammelh Jr;, GatesworthApts, 2,43, :Uui on-. St.,- St. ,L'ouis, Mo.

This; invention relatesto devices for, guarding latch ndit n 1 m ts,-.a re. rti la y to Pr tive arrangements, for the door-latch-controlliug. elements utilized on'doors of closedlbody automobiles.

The, present developments constitute certain improvements over the, subjecfcmatter. of, Patent. No. 2,708,845, issued .May,2 4, 1 9 55,' to thisapplicant and entitledLock lu e Gu r i g.- De a st.

The, guarding devices of. the presentsubjectare utilized to prevent the. unintended, casual or otherwise unwanted. manipulation, ofdoor-latch-Qonditioning elements from. door-lockingposition; to door-unlocking position, andin. various ,modified,-.constructions prevent une wanted digital manipulation and yet enable selectively, normal. digital. operation of, the. latch-conditioning element.

Some. automotivewehicles; of; closed body types are equipped on each. door, with.a. slidably reciprocal lock t n o s aha ebutt a sope b lo g d fromione end to the other; of anaperture formed in the door frame. Slidable buttons of the type noted, are utilized. to condition.the; laEhrnechanisnr of, the door against operation, as'throughan interconnecting linkage, fromeither theinsider or. the outsideof, the door.-

When children occupy; the rear. seat. compartment of fourdoor closed. .ty.pe automobiles,..there exists a serious personahhazardin. thatthe-child or children may manually move one or both of the rear. door lock buttons e o =u 1o kinap t andhen eenabl he o r to. be opened,: while the automobile is, in motion. Such exis a ndmi e saHv r co n d. aa rdsha e m se ompell d resor o. wo d or. lo d. i to ob among. families ineh dingsmall, children. It is. a major o j e f. h present, improv me ts. t v id, u hazard throughan arrangement such that. once the slid able button-is moyed tea door-locking position, such but-ton; cannot be subsequently. moved without the. use of a h n i s r ment u hs. an au omo ile sni o ey- T u i ecome mposs b e. f r he. hild fi npan s. 0f the rear seat to open the door.

Ano hermpor ant. obje t. t pr n mpro m isrealized in. a smallilow cost device which serves as a guard, housing for aQloclg button that is slidably move able from-one end; to the. othen f) a rame. pl pe ture, which easily and; quickly'installed; requires virtually. no addedpace h nstall d, d which ables operative manipulatiqn of. thebutton to a doorunlocking position only by.th e use of a thin instrument ch as key.-.

Another important objectgis achieved in.mounting the guard housingso that it can'be moved conveniently to an inoperatiye positionrelative to the lock button to permit selectively conventional use of; the button in con ditioning the latch mechanism of the doorwhen such use is desi ed.

StillfflllflthljiihPOfiHlt'ObjBCtiVe is=achieved in a modified; structureby the= provision ofa slot in a slidable plate element --located -behindti an aperture formed in a Patented Oct, 1.1, 1960 2 frame plate of the door, the slot being of reducedsize to receive a thininstrument such.as akey to enable translatory sliding movement. of the plate element to condition the latch, and to prevent digital manipulation of the plate element by access through the. slot.

Other important advantages are. achieved in the structure discussed above by the provision of a button having a shank adapted to interfit the narrow slot and means for detachably connecting the button to the. plateele} ment to enable selectively the usual digital operation.

The foregoing and numerous other, objects and advantages of the invention will more clearlyappear from the following detailed description of certain variant forms of the improvements, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a device for guarding alatch-conditioning element of an automobile door;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the. assembly of Fig. l as taken along line 22 of Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the door-locking position of the slide plate and projecting button;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view, of the guarding device shown in Figs. 1' and 2 which illustrates the operation of such device by a thin instrument such as a key;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guard housing;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view. of another embodiment of a guard device; i V Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the detachable button utilized in the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 5, but with the detachable button removed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view, partly in cross section, as of the modifiedforml shown in Fig. 5 as seen along line 8-8 of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of a pro tective device similar to that shown in F igs. 1 -2, but disclosing a pivotal mouutingfor the guardhousing and Fig. l0 is aside elevational view, of the. modified structure shown in Fig. 9, the guard housingbeing shown in full lines to indicate the inoperative position and shown in dash lines to indicate the operativeposition,

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to the embodiment of the present subject matter disclosed in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, it is seen that the guard device includes a rectangularly shaped frame plate 10 having projecting arcuatetribs 11 that constitute the upper andlowermargins of plate 10. Theribs 11 are vertically spaced and bridged,by an intervening flat plate portion 12 located slightly inwardly of ribs 11. A pair of screws 13 is utilized to secure frame plate. 10 to the glass frame generally indicated at 14. of the auto-, mobile door. Of course, it will be realized that the frame plate 12 may constitute an integral part of the glass frame 14 or other frame element of the automobile door if such is desired.

Formed in intervening portion 12 of plate. 10 is elongate aperture 15 which in the embodiment shown substantiallyrbridges the curvilinear ribs 11 A plate element 16 is'slidably mounted and located behind frame. plate 1 0, the plate element 16 being of suflicient length to cover and close aperture 15 at each range of its.slidable movement. The plate element 16 is connectedby suitable linkage 17" to the latching mechanism (not shown) of the; automobile door, such linkage 17 being adapted to condition the latching mechanism as the plate element 16 is moved within predetermined limits.

Attached to plate element; 16 is a button 20 that constitutes a shoulder that extends outwardly of aperture 15. The button 20- substantially bridges aperture 15. The plate element 16' and button 2% are slidably moved within limits to. condition the latch mechanism of the door, the button 20 being conventionally movable along aperture 15 from one end to the other by manual manipu lation.

The construction of guard housing 21 is perhaps best shown in Fig. 4, the housing 21 being formed by a cuplike structure in which the rear portion is open as indicated at 22, and one end portion is opened as indicated at 23. The front portion24- of' guard housing 21 is provided with a narrow elongate slot 25 that communicates with the open end portion 23 for reasons which will be apparent subsequently. Extending laterally outwardly from thebase of the closed end portion of the guard housing 21 is-a connecting flange 26 in which an aperture 27 is provided and adapted to receive one of the fastening screws 13.

The guard housing 21 is attached'to frame plate 10 and arranged structurally relative to aperture in the manner clearly shown by Figs. 1-3 inclusive. It will be particularly noted that the guard housing 21 covers only a portion of the length of aperture 15, i.e., it covers only one end portion of aperture 15. In attaching the guard housing 21, one of screws 13 is removed andthe guard housing 21 i located so that aperture 27 of flange 26 i is aligned to receive the screw 13 when his replaced. and the open rear portion 22 of the housing is placed over aperture 15 so that the button can be moved into the housing when it is moved to one limit of its sliding movement in aperture 15.

Assume first that the button 20 and connected plate element 16. are located in their door-unlocking position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to condition the latching mechanism of the automobile door so that it will not o en, the button 20 i manually moved locking position shown in Fig. 3 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In moving along aperture 15 to this door-locking position, the button 20 passes through the open rear portion 22 and open end portion 23 until it is efiectively located under the housing 21. It will now be apparent that button 20 cannot be digitally manipulated while in the door-locking position since it is completely protected and shielded by housing 21. It will be particularly noted that slot in housing 21 is of reduced size to preclude digital actuation of the button 24 by access through the slot when the button 20 is located in the door locking position within housing 21. The plate element 16 completely covers the exposed portion of aperturelS not covered by housing 21, and hence there is no means aflorded by which the plate element may be digitally gripped for unintended and unwanted manipulation of the latch conditioning element.

When it is desired to move the latch conditioning element consisting of plate element 16 and button 20, to the door-unlocking position, a relatively thin instrument such as a key is inserted through slot 25 behind the button 20, and then the button 20 is actuated by key 28 and slidably moved to the other end of aperture 15 into the door-unlocking position. In such position, the button 20 is completely exposed and located completely out of housing 21, the button now being capable of digital manipulation once again to the door-locking position as described previously.

A modified structure of the protective device shown in Figs. l-4 is disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10. This modified structure relates to the particular mounting of guard housing 21 to frame plate 10.

The mounting structure includes a screw 40 and washer 41 utilized to secure a sleeve 42 to frame plate 10. The guard housing 21 is slidably received over sleeve 42 and is movable within limits determined by the axial length of spacer sleeve 42. Located between flange 26 of guard housing 21 and washer 41, is a compression spring 43.

The spring 43 tends to urge flange 26, and hence guard housing 21 in a direction toward frame plate 10.

When the protective device is utilized, the guard hops;

4 ing 21 is normally located in the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 10 adapted to receive the button when it is moved to the door-locking position. In this operative position, the spring 43 urges guard housing 21 tightly against frame plate It). When button 20 is located within guard housing 21, an actuating instrument must be utilized to move button 20 to the door-unlocking pos1 tion, all as discussed previously with respect to the structure disclosed in Figs. l-4.

Moreover, it will be realized that the guard housing 21 cannot be pivotally moved out of position when button 2G is located therein. If pivotal movement of guard housing 21 is attempted, the side walls of such housing will engage button 20 and prevent any such pivotal movement. It will be noted that guard housing'21 may be axially moved outwardly along sleeve 42 against the load ing of spring 43 for a distance to permit pivotal movement of guard housing 21 to an inoperative positron shown in full lines inFig. 10. However, such axial movement along sleeve 42 is limited so that the guard housing 21 will not clear button 22 when the button is located Within the guard housing 21. Q r H Assume that guard'housing 21 is in its operative pos1- tion and it is desired to utilize the latching mechanism 1620 in the usual conventional manner.. First, the button 20 is located in the door-unlocking position out of guard housing 21. Then guardhousing 21 may be moved outwardly axially along spacer sleeve 42 until it clears ribs 11 of frame plate 10. Then, guard housing 21 may be rotated about the pivot zone defined by screw and sleeve 42 to the inoperative position shown in full 111168 in Fig. 10.

If at any time the protective device is desired to be bi! digital manipulation al aperture 15 to the deep used, the guard housing 21 may be qu ckly and easily rotated back to the operative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. Of course, the button 20 must be located first in the door-unlocking position before pivotal movement of the guard housing 21 to its operative position.

A variant form of guard device for protection of latch conditioning elements is shown in Figs. 5-8. The species thus identified includes the same general type of frame plate described previously respect to the species shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, such frame plate. 10 being secured to the glass frame 14 by screws113 and including an elongate aperture 15. V g

A plate element 30 is slidably mounted behmd frame plate 10 and behind aperture 15. The plateelement 30 is slidably movable Within limits to condrtlon thelatch mechanism of the automobile door. Formed in plate element 30 is a narrow slot 31 of reduced size so as to preclude digital actuation of the plate element 30 through such slot. A button 32 is detachably connected to plate element 30 through slot 31. The button 32 includes a head portion 33 and a T-shaped shank portlon 34 that is relatively thin so as to interfit the narrow slot 31 upon assembly and disassembly of the button to the plate element 30.

shaped shank 34 is aligned with and inserted through Located about shank 34 and adjacent button head 33 is a spring washer 35 that constitutes a resilient means between plate element 30 and button32, the washer 35 serving to retain and fix detachably the button 32 in position within slot 31. Cooperating with resilient spring washer 35 for this purpose is a lock shoulder 36 on T- shaped shank portion 34 andcoactingdepressed portions 37 in the rear of plate element 30 on OPPOSIte sldes of slot 31. The lock shoulder 36 is adapted to interfit either one of the depressed ,portions 37 under spring loading.

To assemble button 32 to plate element .30, the T- narrow slot 31. Then, the button 32 is rotated degrees so that T-shank 34 underlies the marginal portions assesses shown in Pig's; and 8; the shoulder 36: enters either-one of thedepressed portions 37 under -spring loading of'resilient means 35, thus locking-button-32to location away from the child. It is seen in Fig. 7 that t with button 32 removed, plate element 30 cannot be digitally actuated to the door-unlocking position. As explained previously, the slot 31 is of reduced size to prevent insertion of a finger and to preclude any effective gripping of plate element 30. Again, it will be noted as with the species shown in Figs. 1-4, the plate element 30 completely covers and closes the aperture 15 when the plate element 30 is moved to either limit of its range of slidable travel.

To move plate element 30 to the door-unlocking position, a thin instrument such as a keymay be inserted into slot 31 and the plate element 30 slidably moved to the other limit of its range of travel upon engagement of the key with the end of slot 31.

It will appear obvious that with button 32 removed, the plate element 30 may be actuated to door-locking and -unlocking positions solely by the use of a thin instrument such as a key in narrow slot 31. At any time, the button 32 may be reassembled and attached to plate element 39 in the manner previously described so that the latch conditioning elements may be digitally operated in the conventional Way.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to several embodiments, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for precluding direct digital actuation of a door-latch-conditioning element mounted on a door, the device comprised of a frame plate on the door, the frame plate being provided with an aperture, a plate element movably mounted behind said frame plate and closing the aperture, the plate element being movable in a predetermined path within limits to condition the latching mechanism of the door, a housing overlying a portion of said aperture and said plate element, the housing being provided with a slot through which an actuating instrument such as a key may be inserted for plate element actuation, the slot being of a small size so as to preclude digital actuation of the plate element by access through the slot when the plate element is moved to one of its limit positions.

2. A device for precluding direct digital actuation of a door-latch-conditioning element mounted on a door, the device comprised of a frame plate on the door, the frame plate being provided with an aperture, a slide plate movably mounted behind said frame plate and closing said aperture, the slide plate being movable in a predetermined path within limits to condition the latching mechanism of the door, the slide plate including a shoulder movable therewith, the aperture being of a length at least the distance between said limits, a housing overlying a portion of said aperture and said slide plate, the housing being provided with a slot adjacent said shoulder through which an actuating instrument such as a key may be inserted to engage saidshoulder for slide plate actuation, the slot being of a small size to 6t preclude digitaliactuatiomof the.slide plate; by access. throughike slot.-

3. A device for precluding directrdigital :actuation of adoor latchconditioningzelementt mounted on a door, the

. devicei comprised-1 015 2; frame plate on. the door, the

frame plate being provided :with amapertu-re, atlatch cona ditionin'g-ielement movablyemounted' behindv said frame. platedncludingagshouldersextending out of'said ,aperture, said' shoulder being.movable;in .sa;id.aperture in a.pre.-. determined? path. withinto condition the latching mechanismofvthetdoor, thesaperturetbeingmffa length to assuregmovement; Of SEid: shoulderwithin the limits, a=housing' on isaid frammplatecoveringonly a portion of said aperture occupied by the shoulder in one of its limits, the housing being provided with an opening through which said shoulder may be moved into said housing, the opening being small enough relative to the size of said shoulder to preclude digital actuation of the shoulder out of said housing to the other limit, the housing being provided with a slot through which an actuating instrument such as a key may be inserted to engage said shoulder when in said housing for actuation of said shoulder, the slot being small to preclude digital actuation of said shoulder by access through said slot.

4. A device for precluding direct digital actuation of a door-latch-conditioning element mounted on a door, the device comprised of a frame plate on the door, the frame plate being provided with an aperture, a latch conditioning element movably mounted behind said frame plate including a shoulder movable therewithextending out of said aperture, said shoulder being movable in said aperture in a predetermined path within limits to condition the latching mechanism of the door, a housing on said frame plate covering a portion of said aperture occupied by the shoulder in one of its limits, the housing having one side portion .and one end portion open so that said shoulder may be moved into said housing, the open side and end portions being small enough relative to the size of the shoulder to preclude digital actuation of the shoulder out of the housing to the other limit, the latch conditioning element covering at least that portion of' the aperture not covered by the housing, the housing being provided with a slot through which an actuating instrument such as a key may be inserted to engage said shoulder when in said housing for actuation of said shoulder out of said housing, slot being of a small size to preclude digital actuation of said shoulder by access through said slot.

5. A latch guard for receiving a door-latch-conditio-ning element comprising a cup-like housing having its rear side portion and one end portion open and in communication to receive the latch conditioning element, the housing having its opposite end portion closed and having its front side portion provided with a narrow slot communicating with the said open end extending toward the opposite closed end portion, the slot being narrow to preclude digital access therethrough into said housing and yet permit insertion of an actuating instrument such as a key to engage the element -for actuation completely out of said housing, and a flange on said housing for connect-ing the housing to a frame plate on the door.

6. A device for precluding direct digital actuation of a door-latch-conditioning element mounted on a door, the device comprised of a frame plate on the door, the frame plate being provided with an aperture through which the latch conditioning element extends and is operable within limits to condition the latching mechanism of the door, means for guiding the element in a predetermined path within the aperture, a guard housing on the frame plate covering only a portion of the aperture in its operative position in the path of the element at one limit of its movement, the housing having an opening through which the latch conditioning element may be moved into and out of said housing, the opening being small enough relative to the size of the element to preclude digital which :an actuatinginstrument such as a key may be inserted to engage the latch conditioning element when in said housing for actuation out of said housing, the slot being of atsmall size to preclude digital actuation of the latch conditioningtelement by.access through said slot, the guard housing being pivotally mounted so that it can be selectivelyimoved into and out of operative,

position in the path of the latch conditioning element when the element is located in. the other limit of its 8. movement out of the housing, the housing extending along opposite sides of the element when the element is locatedzin the housing to preclude movement of the housing out of operative relation to said element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 2,033,806 Baker Mar. 10, 1936 2,075,495 'Aten Mm.- 30, 1937 2,368,487 Newell Jan. 30, 1945 2,676,479 Bethune Apr. 27, 1954 2,708,845 Trammell May 24, 1955 

